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Rocketry

NASA AND LAUNCH-VEHICLE
DEVELOPMENTS

At the end of this block of study, you should be able to:

5.47 Discuss the formation of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA).
5.48 Identify the organization responsible for research and
development In the area of military aerospace activities.
5.49 Explain why the United States had to design launch vehicles
for its manned spaceflight missions.
5.50 List America's present major launch vehicles.

In October 1958, the United States split its aerospace
research into two parts. NASA was formed to carry out the
peaceful exploration of space and to conduct basic aeronautics
research. The Department of Defense (DOD) became responsible for
research and development in the area of military aerospace
activities.

The need for a new rocket for manned space missions became
apparent when lightweight nuclear warheads were developed. Since
America's launch vehicles for space exploration were modified
ICBMs, scientists realized these rockets would become smaller and
less powerful with the smaller warheads. With this in mind,
rocket scientists in the late 1950s began to modify Jupiter and
Redstone rockets. This work produced the Saturn class of rockets
culminating in the Saturn V which launched Apollo missions 4, 6,
8, 9, 10, and 11. Mission 11, which was launched on July 16, 1969
landed men on the moon for the first time in history.

The Space Transport
System (STS), better known as the Space Shuttle. Here is
the STS-26 launch, mission return to flight.

During the period from 1956 to the present there have been
more scientific and technological developments in flight than in
all previous history.

In fact, aerospace accomplishments are so commonplace today that
most people lose sight of the important part aerospace plays in
our everyday lives. More information on these accomplishments in
aviation and space will be found in other chapters of this
Website.